Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1887-03-25
"Who gatc this eros. to hcrw asks

Millicent suddenly, il u little coldiy
Tho man TO whom she i5 engaged
Paul Annerlcy she called him. Tho man
she is going to marry"
"You present him to mo in the light of
either dupo or u swintllcr"
"a dupc, most probably. IIo may,
however, bc OF uso to us in the discovery
Of the missing stones."
at will distress Nntline very much to
have her lover accused OF being an out
slider in this affair"
"I do not see thnt," says Massarccnc,
quickly, who is us honest as ho Is fulfilled
of love. "lf ho can lend Justice 10 its cnls,
why should he not be uscds Miss Roche,
am sure, would be tho very las, TO pre-
vent that; and 10, when you como to think
OF it"-lootiag at Millicent-"would
YOU"
"Wcll-pcrhnps. Dut Nadine must not
DO tenscd now. Not tonight. To.imor-
row night perhaps, when tho ball is over
s--but sot before.pgy-st, 49, =, =. !.
"As you will" says lady valworth,
with sigh
She would have liked to speak with
Nndinc now at once. "Is it n conspiracyi"
asks Duran, coming up nj this moment
ahd touching Lady Vnlworth lightly on
tho urn. "You NIL look so solemi,--cven
Miss Grey, who, ~ u rule, is gny as spIing
time"
"OhW eSr!pims Milliccnt; at Is this
curious affair."" Bhc EocY on; "uuntis
imagincs she has seen Tonight eon,e ct
her lost diamonds. And whero do YOU
thinkf"
''In the servants hnllr" suCgcsts ho,
laughing.
'No. Here. In this very room, worn
by ono Of her guests"
Int nurD, lntft A.
removes the smile from Durans lips. IIo
turns TO Lady Valworth. "A g-cst" hs
says.
"Milllccnt is indiscreet, hcsitates Indy
Valworth, casting n rcproachful glance ut
her niece.
mot that; only n littlo nngry," returns
Milliccnt, with n rather trcmulous smile
"hnd why should what you have told MS
bc hidden. Why, after all IRE we 10
whisper OF it in cornces? Wo almost con-
deinn her in so doing"
"COrdcmnl Who," cxclaima Duran
sharply.
Instinct, lovo, what you will, has led
him to n knowledge Of the truth
"Nadino," replies I.udy vGlw orth in q
low tone, her eyes lowered.
"Who he's dnrcd';- lie checks him
self abruptly by an effort that renders h.s
face rs white and cold rs marble. "iuu
can scarcely alludo 10 Mis-, Eocho when
speaking Of this matter" " he COCA on, with
lnhorcd attempt 10 appear calm.
''Of N1dinc? Yes. But IL is I'll mis-
taks," snys lMllicent. Lady Valworth
has seen diamond cross around her
neck. But enc cross o. that sort ~ so like
another! 70. my part feel sure II is a
mere coincidence" at 10 peirt on
which no doubt should bc allowed to rest
even for moment" declares Duran, his
brow darkening. Iis looks round him.
"Mis5 Roche Is nt tbs other end OF the
room. WIZ you permit ne TO bring her
here, Lady Valwcr.h, and let yon have o
closer examination Of this CROSSE You,
too, Miss Grry. You know the cross In
question:" ~ linvc s2en it-ycs," says
Milliccnt. slowly. "If you think 1t bet
ter TO lift this doubt from Lady Vnl-
worth's mind ac--h-ing Nadine here Eut
upon one thing J s.3t''-iixiag Nc. eyes
first on him and then on her aunt with an
impcrious glancc-''tliat no thought oI
our suspicion is bstrayed to Nadine.
will not have her hurt cTcnded"-
She breaks of abruptly. She is agi-
ta!ed, and her eyes are troubled. Could
she know il, her cctGtion, kindly,
womanly as it is-hns mcde Duran her
friend for life.
SStshittllt tiO SUOutl DC Ultltlt
to-cr-nliythin awkward, puts In Mas
shrecnc hurricdly.
Duran has already gone IN quest OF M
dine; and presently rc.urn5, bringing
her 10 where Lady Vnlworth, Miiliecnt,
and Gerald Mnssurccnc are standing
The girl, flushed ana lovely, forgctflil
for the moment Of all her cruel future.
and mindful only of the happy present
that has given her Duran. advances
toward the anxious, cxpcctant group
with smiling lips end wide, glad sycs
Upon her neck the fatal cross is rising,
falling, glittering, as only the purcst
diamonds can. Millicent, her gaze nNc'l
upon them, feels her heart contract. II
not Lady VaIworth's croes, II is unfortu-
natcly horribly like It,
Some few words pass between her and
Nadine. The latter is too fun 'oi the
hours passionate joy 10 heed the grief
within her friends eyes. Eut Duran
reads it, Lady Vnlworth, after cne
swift glance ut the girls neck, lets her
gaze sinl; to her fun, with which she per
sistcntly trifles until Nadine has gone by
them.
"Wcll7" she says then, addressing Mil
liccnt.
al acknowledge 1t is like your cross-
so like that it may be yours; and, IL 70,
no doubt this Pnul Anncrlcy bought IL
for her from wherever the thief cold it,"
IA city clcrk!-to buy that jcwclr'
There is 'lnbclicf, keen and strong, In
Lady VElworths low tono.
'IIow else could lie have obtained IL.
Who is this Paul Annerlcy' How shonld
he have had access to your Jewel cascs"
Miss Grey's tono is somewhat impa
tient.
"rhat is what 1 cannot say. only
know the cross is mine," replies her aunt
dosgedly.
at resembles 1t. That admit. Bat
think time will prove to you that you
are mistaken. II is probably only paste. ~
paste Of that sort is expensive for q
city clerk"
Her obstinacy angcrs Nillicent.
"Thcn in oil probability. rs said be-
fore, 1t is mere glass-Spanish crystal
what You will" she says, Struggling her
shoulders. az can we'll believe il is q
bit of French iewclry. What cannot
believe is, that Nadine has had any inter
course with thief"
"As you have said, time will tell" re-
plies Lady Valworth, modify.